Arrests made in record Japan ivory haul...

Saturday, 10 February 2007, 1:05 pm
Press Release: CITES
9 February 07

Arrests have been made in the record-breaking elephant ivory seizure case of this past August in Osaka, Japan. The confiscated ivory totalled nearly three tons, costing the lives of hundreds of endangered African elephants. Two suspects have just been taken into custody for their alleged violation of the international trade ban on ivory.
While claims have previously been made by the CITES (Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species) Secretariat that Japan no longer has significant involvement in the ivory trade industry, this 2.8 ton seizure clearly disproves such statements. “IFAW encourages the strictest penalties for those convicted in this crime. The poaching of elephants has spiralled out of control in recent years and international law must be strictly enforced,” said Rebecca Keeble, IFAW Asia Pacific Campaigns Officer.

Given that the seizure took place in August 2006, the official reporting, which occurred in October, raises major concerns about the forthrightness of Japanese authorities. The failure to promptly disclose these events occurred at a time that was all too convenient for Japan, just up for their consideration to become a trading partner by CITES for ivory stockpiles. With the seizure under wraps, Japan was approved as a trading partner.

“This behaviour cannot be ignored, and the trading partner status of Japan must be reconsidered by CITES standing committee,” said Ms Keeble.

Fuelled by a growing demand for ivory in Asian regions, the wholesale price of ivory in Japan and China has skyrocketed in recent years, going from $100/kg in the late 1990’s to the current staggering $750/kg.
The ivory found in this shipment is enough to create approximately 80,000 “hankos”, which is equivalent to roughly 40% percent of Japan’s annual consumption. Hankos are traditionally used by the Japanese to seal letters, and are representative of a certain status within society. Between March 2005 and August 2006, over 26 tons of ivory has been seized, the highest ever in such a period since the 1989 CITES ban went into effect (which was later resanctioned). This single seizure has been identified as the largest ivory seizure ever in Japan.